Abstract: A swinging door assembly includes a frame mount, a door panel, and a pivot assembly operably connecting the door panel to the frame mount such that the door panel is pivotable in two opposite directions from a closed position to first and second opened positions. When the door panel is pivoted in the first direction by an angle less than a threshold angle, or is pivoted in the second direction by an angle less than the threshold angle, the door panel is biased toward the closed position by virtue of a weight of the door panel, and when the door panel is pivoted in the first direction by an angle greater than or equal to the threshold angle, or is pivoted in the second direction by an angle greater than or equal to the threshold angle, the door panel is no longer biased toward the closed position.

Abstract: An anti-ligature hinge for a door and associated methods and systems are provided. The anti-ligature hinge has a hinge bracket operatively associable with a support and a hinge member operatively associable with a leaf. The hinge member is connectable to the hinge bracket and rotatable relative to the hinge bracket about an axis of rotation. The hinge member can disconnect from the hinge bracket in response to a threshold force acting along or transverse to the axis or rotation. This hinge is for eliminating ligature points in doors where vulnerable individuals are to be left unsupervised.

Abstract: A hinge band for a partition element, particularly for a door or for a window, and a partition installation having such a hinge band are disclosed. The hinge band has a first band part and a second band part, wherein the first band part is connected to the second band part for hinge action about a hinge axle pin in such a manner that the first band part is rotatable relative to the second band part about a rotation axis. Furthermore, a lifting or lowering installation is provided, wherein on account of the lifting or lowering installation the first band part in a movement of the first band part relative to the second band part about the rotation axis is moved along the rotation axis.

Abstract: An interchangeable ring having a main ring which has a ring loop. The ring loop has an inner surface portion, an outer surface portion, and a through cavity formed as a space surrounded by the inner surface portion. The interchangeable ring also has an interchangeable stone setter having a spring loader operatively engaged with the main ring, a connector, and an engaging stone setter which is selectively configured between an unengaged position which the engaging stone setter detaches from the connector through the spring loader, and a locking position which the connector engages with the engaging stone setter through the spring loader.

Abstract: A domestic refrigeration appliance includes a heat-insulated inner container delimiting a coolable interior for foodstuffs, a refrigeration device cooling the interior, a door leaf articulated by hinges for opening and closing the interior and an opening aid. At least one hinge is self-closing for automatically closing the door leaf up to a first opening angle. The opening aid includes an actuator and a tappet moving back and forth by the actuator between first and second positions. The opening aid enables the door leaf to be closed if the tappet is in the first position, to move the tappet from the first to the second position to push open the closed door leaf using the tappet up to a second opening angle smaller than the first opening angle, and to automatically move the tappet into the first position immediately or with a time delay after reaching the second position.

Abstract: A self closing and adjustable closing force cam hinge includes a compression spring located on the hinge so that a hinge pin passes through the compression spring and the head of the hinge pin is retracted in a direction away from the compression spring to compress the compression spring. Compression of the spring applies a closing force to the hinge when the hinge is in the open position. The hinge also includes a spring adjuster having an adjustably positionable body that is adjustably positionable relative to the head of the hinge pin. Adjustment of the position of the adjustably positionable body raises or lowers the head of the hinge pin such that raising of the hinge pin increases compression of the compression spring to increase the closing force applied by the compression spring and lowering of the hinge decreases compression of the compression spring to decrease the closing force applied by the compression spring.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for opening/closing a door in which the door can be semi-automatically closed in a preset section so as to enable an operator in an operating cab to easily close the door.

Abstract: A safety device for a glove port includes a hatch that is rotatably fixable by a hinge arrangement to an outer frame of the glove port so as to rotate between a closing position and an opening position for preventing or allowing access to the glove port, respectively. The device further includes a sensor associated associable with the glove port and arranged for engaging and/or detecting an abutment portion of the hatch in the closing condition and generating an alarm signal when the abutment portion does not engage the sensor, in particular when the hatch is not in the closing position.

Abstract: Door construction includes a door panel and at the top and at the bottom each time a self-closing pivot hinge. Each of the pivot hinges includes a spring which extends along the rotation axle and which provides a self-closing function to the pivot hinge. Each of the pivot hinges includes a first cam element and a second cam element which are pushed onto each other by the spring and push the door panel towards the closed position under the influence of the spring pressure. The first cam element includes at least one protrusion which upon rotation runs along a running surface with inclined parts of the second cam element. The second cam element is movably mounted in longitudinal direction of the pivot axle by means of a pen which is accommodated in a slotted hole of the second cam element. The slotted hole extends at least partly between the inclined parts of the running surface.

Abstract: A riser hinge (10) is disclosed which includes a mounting flange assembly (12) pivotally coupled to a strap assembly (15). The cylindrical portion (52) includes an upper strap bearing (54) and a lower strap bearing (55) which are each mounted partially within the cylindrical portion. The strap cylinder portion has a space (82) which includes an enlarged portion (83) flanked by narrowed portions (84) at stop ledges (85). The upper strap bearing and lower strap bearing each have a vertically oriented, elongated, locking tongue or flange (87) with a narrowed portion (88) extending to an enlarged portion or stop (89), which enables them to be removably mounted within the space.

Abstract: A hinge assembly includes a receiving seat, a control member, a clutch member, a follower, a main shaft and an elastic element. The receiving seat includes a first cam surface. The control member is releasably latched with the receiving seat. The clutch member includes at least one projection. The follower includes a second cam surface engaging with the at least one projection. The receiving seat, the control member, the clutch member and the follower are placed around the shaft. The elastic element provides an elastic force for the follower. After the control member is unlocked, the second cam surface engages with the first cam surface.

Abstract: A patch fitting for a glass door includes a mount for being mounted on a floor, a shaft connected with the mount, a clamping seat pivotally connected with the shaft, and a piston unit installed inside the clamping seat. When the glass door is sweeping to open or close, the clamping seat will turn along with the sweeping movement of the glass door about the shaft and the piston unit will be pushed by an eccentric cam of the shaft to press the hydraulic oil contained in the clamping seat so as to provide a damping resistance in response to the sweeping movement of the glass door. The patch fitting can be easily installed on the floor by a simple work.

Abstract: A support mechanism includes a support frame, a first hinge assembly, and a second hinge assembly. The support frame includes a first pivoting portion and a second pivoting portion aligned with the first pivoting portion. The first hinge assembly is mounted to the first pivoting portion, and the second hinge assembly is mounted to the second pivoting portion and aligns with the first hinge assembly. The support mechanism is durable. The present disclosure further provides an electronic device using the support mechanism. As the first pivot portion and the first hinge assembly is arranged in a line coaxial with the second pivoting portion and the second hinge assembly, an amount of force applied for supporting the main body of the electronic device is dispersed in a line, rather than being focused on one point, such that, an adjustable viewing angle to the main body is also provided.

Abstract: A door hinge unit in a refrigerator which pivots a door on a refrigerator body, and holds the door to maintain an opened state or a maximum opened state at a predetermined position for preventing the door from hitting an external object and a hinge shaft from breaking, and minimizes a friction surface between a male member and a female member of the hinge for making movement of the hinge smooth and preventing the hinge from causing noise.

Abstract: A riser hinge (10) is disclosed which includes a mounting flange assembly (12) pivotally coupled to a strap assembly (15). The strap assembly includes a camming assembly (27) having a multi-lobed cam 28 with a large lobe (38) and a small lobe (39). The lobes have a top bearing surfaces which extends to a flat dwell surface. The large lobe top dwell surface (41) is of a select size (arcuate length) which is longer than that of the small lobe top dwell surface (44). The camming assembly also includes a cam follower (56) having two cam following ridges (69). The asymmetrical configuration of the grooves creates a first, large ridge (70) and a second, small ridge (71). The bottom bearing surface (77) of the small ridge rides upon the top bearing surface of the small lobe. Similarly, the bottom bearing surface (73) of the large ridge rides upon the top bearing surface of the large lobe.

Abstract: A hinge assembly includes a first cam, a second cam, a third cam, at least one resilient member and a shaft. The first cam includes an outer cam surface and an inner cam surface. The third cam is slidably received in the second cam, and the second cam and the third cam respectively engage with the outer cam surface and the inner cam surface. The resilient member provides an elastic force making the third cam and the second cam abut against the first cam. The shaft extends through the first cam, the second cam, the third cam and the at least one resilient member.

Abstract: An asymmetrical resistant hinge set includes at least a resistant hinge and an elastic element coaxially positioned. The resistant hinge is hinged on a first pivotal means located on the bottom side of a body. The elastic element provides action forces on the resistant hinge and one-way resistance to generate an asymmetrical hinge effect with a greater resistance in one direction and a smaller resistance in another direction when a support lid is flipped in forward and reverse directions to reduce the resistance of the resistant hinge. As a result, when the support lid is flipped to a selected angle it still can bear the weight of the body of a portable electronic device at the anchored position without drifting.

Abstract: A riser hinge (10) is disclosed which includes a mounting flange assembly (12) pivotally coupled to a strap assembly (15). The cylindrical portion (52) includes an upper strap bearing (54) and a lower strap bearing (55) which are each mounted partially within the cylindrical portion. The strap cylinder portion has a space (82) which includes an enlarged portion (83) flanked by narrowed portions (84) at stop ledges (85). The upper strap bearing and lower strap bearing each have a vertically oriented, elongated, locking tongue or flange (87) with a narrowed portion (88) extending to an enlarged portion or stop (89), which enables them to be removably mounted within the space.

Abstract: A riser hinge (10) is disclosed which includes a mounting flange assembly (12) pivotally coupled to a strap assembly (15). The strap assembly includes a camming assembly (27) having a multi-lobed cam 28 with a large lobe (38) and a small lobe (39). The lobes have a top bearing surfaces which extends to a flat dwell surface. The large lobe top dwell surface (41) is of a select size (arcuate length) which is longer than that of the small lobe top dwell surface (44). The camming assembly also includes a cam follower (56) having two cam following ridges (69). The asymmetrical configuration of the grooves creates a first, large ridge (70) and a second, small ridge (71). The bottom bearing surface (77) of the small ridge rides upon the top bearing surface of the small lobe. Similarly, the bottom bearing surface (73) of the large ridge rides upon the top bearing surface of the large lobe.

Abstract: A vehicle door hinge assembly includes a first hinge supported to pivot about a first axis, a guide surface, a door located at a side of the vehicle, a bracket to which the door is secured, supported to pivot about the first axis and a second axis and including a follower engaged with the guild surface, and a strut secured to the bracket that extends as the bracket pivots toward an open position and retracts as the bracket pivots toward a closed position.

Abstract: A hinge assembly is provided for a pivoting door mounted about an opening, and may include a hinge plate, an internally threaded adjuster, a locking element, a first cam element, a second cam element, and a limiting plate. The hinge plate is mounted about the opening and includes a pivot projecting therefrom.

Abstract: A hinge includes a first connecting member, a second connecting member defining a through hole, a sleeve member fixed to the second connecting member, a shaft movably mounted to the first connecting member, and a fastener. The sleeve member defines a spiral slide groove therein. A clamping protrusion extends from the first connecting member for slidably engaging in the slide groove. The shaft includes a fixing portion rotatably passed through the sleeve member and the through hole. The fastener is fixed to a distal end of the fixing portion.

Abstract: A height adjustment device for a hinge having one hinge leaf that can be snapped into or inserted into a receiving part mounted on a door leaf or on a door frame, and with a height adjustment mechanism in the receiving part which has abutment against an edge of the hinge leaf. The height adjustment mechanism has a slide that is limitedly movable in the receiving part, and a rotatable height adjustment member. The slide has a portion for abutment against an edge of the hinge leaf. The height adjustment member has a plurality of radially directed, angularly separated arms of different lengths, wherein an end portion of such an arm is adapted to engage with an adapted engaging portion of the slide.

Abstract: A collapsible device includes a base, a cover, and a hinge. The hinge includes a first connecting member fixed to the base, a second connecting member defining a through hole, a sleeve member fixed to the second connecting member, a shaft movably mounted to the first connecting member, and a fastener. The sleeve member defines a spiral slide groove therein. A clamping protrusion extends from the first connecting member for slidably engaging in the slide groove. The shaft includes a fixing portion rotatably passed through the sleeve member and the through hole. The fastener is fixed to a distal end of the fixing portion. The second connecting member is fixed to the cover. During the rotation of the cover relative to the base via the hinge, the cover is synchronously moved transversely relative to the base along the axial direction of the hinge.

Abstract: A compact and aesthetically-pleasing self-closing door hinge comprises a gravity-assist feature and preferably a spring-assist feature, wherein the spring may be easily adjustable, replaceable, and even left out of the hinge. The preferred embodiment is reversible for easily changing from a right-opening to a left-opening door, and includes hinge lift-off capability, wherein the door and the blade connecting the door to the hinge body may be lifted up off the body of the hinge without any significant disassembly of the hinge. The spring is preferably placed around the gravity-assist cams of the hinge, rather than above or below the cams, which arrangement significantly reduces the overall height of the hinge with only slightly increased diameter of the hinge main body. The preferred hinge has no bolts or other fasteners visible or protruding out from the main housing of the hinge, and the preferred hinge has no exposed spring sleeve.

Abstract: A movable member (not shown) non-turnably connected to a second hinge member is arranged on the turning axial line of first and second hinge members such that the movable member is turnable and movable in the direction of the turning axial line. The movable member is biased toward the first hinge member by a coiled spring (not shown). A confronting surface of the first hinge member with respect to the movable member is provided with a pair of raised wall surfaces 11d, 11d extending in the direction of the turning axial line and end face cams 41 arranged between the pair of raised wall parts 11d, 11d, respectively. A confronting surface of the movable member with respect to the first hinge member is provided with a pair of abutment arm parts 42a for converting the biasing force of the coiled spring to a turn biasing force for turning the movable member by being press-contacted with the end face cam 41. A recess 11e is formed in a lower part of the raised wall surface 11d.

Abstract: A rotatable display box comprising, a signage body and mount to engage this to a fixed structure in a manner to allow the signage body to be rotatable about an axis of rotation and relative to said fixed structure. The signage body includes at least two display sides. A cam and the other is a cam follower are included. The cam has a surface including a number of cam surface depressions corresponding to the number of regions at or from which signage is or can be presented, said cam surface depressions located at intervals about said axis or rotation corresponding to the number of display sides of the signage box to which said rotation is to be biased to. The biasing to such locations is encouraged by the biasing of said cam follower towards the cam surface of said cam.

Abstract: A hinge includes a hinge assembly and a damper assembly. The damper assembly includes a stationary housing defining a cavity. A damper body rotatablely installed in the cavity has a head protruding to form a cylindrical guiding portion and a pushing portion defining two side ends apart from each other. At least one of the side ends has a step-shaped profile to make the width of the pushing portion between the side ends nonuniform, and rotatable sheets and stationary sheets are received in the cavity and alternately disposed on the guiding portion and the pushing portion. The stationary sheets are fixed to the stationary housing. Each of the rotatable sheets protrudes inwardly to form a retaining portion. The side ends of the pushing portion alternately contact the retaining portions and contact the retaining portions at intervals when the elastic force of the hinge assembly is released to drive the damper body rotating. Damper resin is filled between the adjacent stationary sheets and rotatable sheets.

Abstract: A variable friction hinge is mounted between a cover and a base of an electronic device and has a pintle, a stationary leaf and a washer assembly. The pintle is connected to the cover. The stationary leaf is connected to the base and has an activating panel with an activating edge. The washer assembly has a movable washer, an abrasion washer and a biasing member. The movable washer selectively abuts the activating edge of the activating panel and has an elongated hole slidably mounted securely around the pintle. The movable and the abrasion washers have teeth corresponding to and selectively engaging each other, causing less friction when engaged and more friction when disengaged. When rotated the movable washer selectively disengages the teeth causing the hinge to have greater friction when being rotated one way than the other.

Abstract: A door assembly that includes a a frame having an upper portion and a lower portion, an electrical hinge mounted to the upper portion of the frame, a gravity hinge mounted to the lower portion of the frame and a door pivotably mounted to the frame by the electrical hinge and the gravity hinge. The electrical hinge pin has a hinge pin part having a plurality of electrical conductors extending downwardly therefrom. The gravity hinge also includes a hinge pin part. The door includes a laminated package having first, second and third layers adhered to one another. At least one of the layers includes an electro-conductive coating thereon that is in electrical communication with the electrical hinge. The door also includes a rail secured adjacent a hinge side edge of the laminated package. The rail includes a tunnel defined therein that includes a top opening that receives the hinge pin part of the electrical hinge and a bottom opening that receives the hinge pin part of the gravity hinge.

Abstract: A low-energy locking hinge mechanism operable with a spacecraft to support a deployable device, and to facilitate the deployment and locking of the deployable device, the hinge mechanism comprising: (a) a support base configured to couple to a structure of the spacecraft; (b) means for securing a deployable device to the support base, the deployable device being configured to rotate about a pivot axis; (c) a one-way clutch supported about the support base and operable with the means for securing, the one-way clutch being configured to facilitate one-way rotation of the deployable device from a stowed position to a deployed position, and to lock the deployable device in the deployed position, the one-way clutch having an inherent actuatable locking function configured to prevent backward motion; and (d) an actuation member operable with the one-way clutch to deploy the deployable device from the stowed position to the deployed position, the actuation member comprising an actuation energy sufficient to actuate

Abstract: A door hinge arrangement for a door is provided including a hinge bearing and a hinge pin adapted to be received in the hinge bearing and being rotatable in the hinge bearing about a vertical axis of the hinge pin. The hinge pin has a protruding cam portion extending perpendicular to the axis and the hinge bearing has a recess formed in a side wall to receive a length of the cam portion when the hinge pin is in a first angular orientation relative to the hinge bearing corresponding to a closed position. When the hinge pin is rotated relative to the hinge bearing to a second angular orientation, the cam acts against the recess to translate the axis of the pin from a first axial position to a second axial position, such that the hinge pin will first be translated laterally as the hinge pin is rotated, and then the hinge pin will be rotated about the second axial position.

Abstract: A cover positioning structure of a dual-usage portable computer is disclosed, which comprises a base, at least one slide block sliding on the base, at least one elastic slice imposing a pressure to the at least one slide block, and a rotary member rotated relative to the base. When rotated, a positioning protrusion of the rotary member is correspondingly positioned to a positioning recess of the at least one slide block. Therefore, the structure aforesaid not only achieves the positioning purpose of being damage-free, but also is cost-effective in having a minimum of elements and manufacture processes.

Abstract: A partition apparatus or system having one or more panels each releasably fixed with respect to a hinge element. The hinge element has at least one hinge leaf, each with an outer edge. Each hinge leaf has at least one opening, preferably multiple openings, extending from the outer edge in a direction inward toward the hinge pin. The panel at least partially defines a slot. A male connector is mounted within the slot. The hinge leaf can be inserted within the slot so that the male connector engages within the opening of the hinge leaf. The opening of the hinge leaf can be shaped so that the hinge element is releasably fixed with respect to the panel.

Abstract: A multipurpose hinge apparatus having an automatic return function is provided in which the apparatus is installed between the door and a main body. The apparatus includes a driving mechanism for ascending and descending a piston rod according to opening and closing of the door which is installed in the upper portion of a cylindrical housing. A piston is connected with the piston rod, in which a one-direction check valve is installed in the piston. The piston partitions an upper chamber and a lower chamber and ascends and descends in association with the piston rod. A first oil path communicates with the upper and lower chambers via the lower portion of the piston rod in the central portion of the piston. A compression spring which makes the piston ascend is inserted into the lower chamber. Oil is filled in the chamber.

Abstract: A hinge assembly includes a housing (1) encasing a spring (2), a cam follower (3), a cam member (4) and a washer (5) therein. The cam follower has a shaft (31), and a pair of tabs (32) perpendicularly formed on the shaft. The spring is coiled over the shaft, and is compressively engaged in the housing. The tabs of the cam follower slide in grooves (13) of the housing. The cam member includes a cam portion (43) and a connector (41). The cam portion forms a pair of peaks (46) and a pair of valleys (44), being engaged with the tabs of the cam follower. The connector extends outside of the housing. The washer is rotatably inserted over the connector, and is fitted in the housing for fixing the hinge components in the housing.

Abstract: A hinge device for pivotally coupling a display to a base includes a seat for being secured with the base, a rotor, a pair of hinges, and at least one roller located on the rotor. The seat defines a hole, and a railway defined in an inner wall of the seat. The rotor includes a shaft pivotally received in the hole, and a pair of beams. Each hinge includes a first rotating member for being attached to the respective beam, and a second rotating member pivotally engaged with the first rotating member for being attached to the display. The roller is movably received in the railway. The railway defines at least two points located in two different planes perpendicular to an axial direction of the shaft. When the shaft of the rotor rotates, the roller moves along the railway to cause the rotor to move in said axial direction.

Abstract: A pivotal device which is fixed onto a first body and a second body and enables the first body to make rotary and upward/downward movements against the second body is provided. The pivotal device includes a rotary spindle and a holder. The rotary spindle which has a sliding track disposed on the lateral side thereof is fixed onto the first body. The holder, which is fixed onto the second holder, has a second run-through hole for pivotally connecting the rotary spindle with at least a protrusion section which is inlaid into the sliding track being disposed at the second run-through hole. When the rotary spindle rotates, the protrusion section will slide along the sliding track enabling the rotary spindle to move closer to or farther from the holder.

Abstract: An automatic closing door hinge, an automatic closing door mechanism, and a hinge of the automatic closing door mechanism, for smoothly opening a door or closing, with damping, a door. For example, an automatic door closing mechanism has a hinge having a pair of wing plates one of which has a cylinder in a circular cylindrical form received therein a piston, the other wing plate fixing an upper portion of an operation rod engaged with the piston, the piston being to be advanced and retracted through the operation rod associatively with a rotation of the other wing plate. The automatic closing door mechanism comprises a cam formed on the piston. An engaging part provided in the operation rod and movable in the cam. The cam and the engaging part engaging between the piston and the operation rod. A sphere arranged in a recess formed in an outer surface of the piston. A recess groove formed lengthwise in the cylinder. The sphere rolls along the recess groove, to allow the piston to slide within the cylinder.

Abstract: A cabinet having a hinged, see-through door for viewing wine and like drinking glasses suspended from the underside of its top surface and shelves in an inverted upside-down orientation with internal illumination and with a self-sealing felt composition compressible inwardly when closing the door to seal out entry of dust.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a hinge for the hinging of spectacle temples, which allows the automatic closing of the temples on the same front of spectacle which has been removed from the head or which features one or both temples in open or wide-open position. A hinging element is provided attached to the endpiece of the front, which is cam-shaped with an eccentric profile progressively increasing from its internal position to its external position and on which a follower runs. The follower is guided in an axial hole 23 in the temple 20 to be hinged and together with an elastic medium which acts axially with the hinge pin while the follower works on an inclined plane produced by the shape of the cam to help the automatic return of the temple 20 in the closing phase.

Abstract: In this incubator, when the angle of a door to a nursing window of a hood is smaller than a rotation restricting angle, door rotation restricting means restrains the rotation of the door in an opening direction. Because of this reason, when the angle of the door is smaller than the rotation restricting angle, the door is not rotated in the opening direction beyond the rotation restricting angle and the angle of the door does not exceed the rotation restricting angle, even if the door is pushed by an accommodated baby from the inside of the hood under the state wherein the door is not fixed in the closing state by a door fixing device. Therefore, even if opening and closing operation for the nursing window is not securely performed, the environment inside the hood hardly deviates from the physiological environment appropriate for the accommodated baby to say the least.

Abstract: A double pivotable door, particularly for use with modular office partitions is disclosed. The double pivotable door includes a frame, which is mounted to a partition by at least one hinge having a first axis of rotation. The frame include a door which is mounted to the frame and can rotate about a second axis of rotation, where the second axis of rotation is parallel but spaced from the first axis of rotation. The door can thus be mounted to partitions where there is limited space, and can rotate about the first axis, as a typical door, or rotate about the first and second axes simultaneously, thereby reducing by approximately half the clearance required for opening and closing the door. Preferably, the door includes a mechanism to prevent the door from pivoting about the second axis. Also preferably, the handle for the door is integral therewith.

Abstract: A hinge for a notebook computer is disclosed. The hinge is composed of a base and a hinge member pivotally mounted on the base by a pintle. The base has a pulley bracket pivotally mounted thereon and a pulley rotatably mounted on the bracket. A tongue is mounted on the pintle and can be pivoted with the hinge member. A distal end of the tongue is engaged with the pulley and located below the pulley when the computer is closed. When the computer is to be opened, the tongue is pivoted upwards to push the pulley bracket pivoted upwards, and disengaged from the pulley. When the computer is to be closed, the tongue is pivoted downwards to push the pulley bracket pivoted downwards, and located below the pulley again. Because the tongue is limited by the pulley, the pintle is unable to be freely rotated and the display is securely closed.

Abstract: A hinge (20) includes two hinge plates (22, 24) and a connecting hinge pin (32). A coil spring (48) supported on a bushing (44) overlies the hinge pin (32), which is free to move along its longitudinal axis (30). A cam follower (42) on the hinge pin (32) engages a cam (32) mounted to one of the hinge plates (22), so that the hinge pin (32) slides longitudinally as the hinge plates (22, 24) pivot relative to each other about the hinge pin (32). As the hinge pin (32) slides longitudinally, it axially compresses or decompresses the spring (48). The cam (32) is oriented such that pivoting of the hinge plates (22, 24) in either direction from an open position compresses the spring (48), providing a restoring force which tends to retain the hinge plates (22, 24) in the open position.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a housing and a door hinged to the housing. The hinge carries a door opening/closing apparatus in the form of a follower slide member carried by the door and arranged to slide upwardly along a camming slide member during opening of the door, and to slide downwardly along the camming slide member during closing of the door to assist in such closing. The follower slide member is able to rotate slightly before making contact with the camming slide member upon initial opening movement of the door so that the opening/closing apparatus does not increase the force needed to initially open the door.

Abstract: A shower stall door hinge has two members connected by a pintle and having axially aligned sleeves. The sleeves of one member with one notch at one end which can be engaged by a radial pin in a radial bore of the pintle. In one of the other sleeves, a radial throughbore is provided to allow an anchoring pin to be inserted to lock that sleeve and its hinge member to the pintle when a fixed rest position for the door is to be defined by engagement of the pin in the notch. In the absence of the stop pin, a pair of washers flank the intermediate sleeve can be provided to allow free swinging of the hinge members.

Abstract: For swingably mounting a door on a jamb, a dual action self closing hinge has a stationary component which seals, shields, and carries a stationary cam and a rotatable cam follower. The cam elements cooperate with one another to displace the cam follower and attached door panel upwardly during an opening movement and permit the automatic downward movement of the cam follower and door panel upon release of the door panel from an open position. Simultaneous with the cam action, an offset hinge mechanism elevates the center of gravity of the door panel during opening, and likewise provides for the automatic return of the door panel to the closed position to improve the self-closing action of the door. In addition, a cam angular position lock enables the closed position of the door relative to the jamb to be easily adjusted.

Abstract: An improved medicine cabinet is constructed predominantly from molded plastic components adapted for rapid assembly. The medicine cabinet includes a forwardly open main housing having preformed grooves therein which cooperate with one or more upright central shelf support brackets to support an array of half width shelf members in a customized geometry of half and full width shelves. The medicine cabinet further includes an improved self-closing hinge assembly for swingably supporting a mirror door from the cabinet housing, wherein the hinge assembly does not require metal parts. The mirror door includes a recessed baseplate for stable nested reception of a glass mirror, in combination with an improved mirror frame adapted for simple snap fit mounting onto the baseplate.

Abstract: A self closing gate comprising a pair of first and second parallel and spaced vertically extending stationary posts. The gate is mounted between the posts for rotation about the first post between positions closing the space between the posts and opening the space. A pivot assembly is mounted on the first post between one end of the gate and the first post, the pivot assembly comprising an outer rotatable housing tube and a stationary and vertically extending shaft. A stationary housing tube is mounted below and aligned with and for supporting the rotatable housing tube, the bottom annular edge of the rotatable housing tube and the top of the stationary tube being at a bias so that when the gate is opened it will rise. Gravity will close the gate when released.